That was a long break. I took photographs this weekend on a beautiful family hike in the woods as is our Thanksgiving tradition and I was reminded once again how time flies. That was then, 5 years ago, when I started blogging. Just look at them now. *sigh*.

That was a long break. I took photographs this weekend on a beautiful family hike in the woods as is our Thanksgiving tradition and I was reminded once again how time flies. That was then, 5 years ago, when I... Continue reading

Chalkboard paint is probably considered a "not" on a hot or not list of trends these days. It's one of those things that has been done to death and this project is no exception. But I had half a tin of leftover paint knocking about and decided to use it up making these placemats I bought o...

Of course one quick doily fix wasn't enough. Once I’d broken into the doily stash, the temptation to use more was overwhelming and my resolve weak. I needed more, much more. I needed a whole curtain of snowflake doilies to keep me satisfied. A perfect, Martha inspired Christmas/winter pro...

Back to the knitting. Or unknitting, as the case may be. For sometimes, that's how we must knit - by going backwards. Because sometimes, we're not really paying attention. Sometimes, our notes for one sweater are scattered all over two notebooks, in four different colored pens with far too ma...

We are making the most of a mild(ish) winter, skiing most weekends, including a visit to a new hill recently and its equally creepy and cute sentiers des toutous (teddy bear trail). We also took advantage of a sunny Saturday... Continue reading

We are lucky to have a public tennis court 100 yards from our house which is converted into an rink every winter. The swishing and swooshing of skates on the ice is one of my favourite sounds ever. Just magical!

This is exactly where all the action is right now. On a thirty by fifty foot sheet of ice, just outside our door. It's been a labor of love by Calvin and Steve, made especially tricky by the snow and cold temperatures that this winter seems to be missing. But nevertheless, it did eventual...

The last few weeks have been a mixed bag * A bit of knitting round and round on a circular needle to make a cosy cowl for me, just right for these frosty days I used Monsoon from JC Brett, lovely colours but the dye came out onto my hands as I was knitting it. I've soaked the cowl in cold wa...

It's been so long since I've made one, I nearly forgot the wondrous nature of hat knitting. Quick, easy, satisfying, stash-busting, pattern-liberating, and oh-so-portable. It can go anywhere with me. Anywhere. This one was truly an on-the-fly knit, grabbing the closest weighted yarns from...

original image source unknown I'm keeping up with the running...although it's pretty icy here right now, so I am very grateful for our second hand running machine in the basement. I saw this today on pinterest - so true! Just the bit of motivation I needed to keep going to week 3! Keep at it...

original image source unknown I'm keeping up with the running...although it's pretty icy here right now, so I am very grateful for our second hand running machine in the basement. I saw this today on pinterest - so true! Just the bit of motivation I needed to keep going to week 3! Keep at it...

I'm turning 40 this year and I'm suddenly feeling a bit middle aged. So I'm using a free C25K podcast to build myself up to running 5K again. Or should I say jogging. I'm not an athlete and I'm horribly out of shape, but I have (pre children) run two half marathons, so I know that it's enti...

Bravo Lucy! Well done. I suffer from shin splints too - I found it better to run on the grass for a while (although there's none here a the moment). Once you get used to it you can start to gradually run on the road or pavement!

I'm turning 40 this year and I'm suddenly feeling a bit middle aged. So I'm using a free C25K podcast to build myself up to running 5K again. Or should I say jogging. I'm not an athlete and I'm horribly out of shape, but I have (pre children) run two half marathons, so I know that it's enti...

original image source unknown I'm keeping up with the running...although it's pretty icy here right now, so I am very grateful for our second hand running machine in the basement. I saw this today on pinterest - so true! Just... Continue reading

I'm very photo led in my blogging so when the camera and computer have a fall out and decide not to talk to each other things grind to a bit of a halt. I managed to get them to have a quick chat this morning so ... When sorting through a pile of bags under my sewing table I came across this lo...

Chalkboard paint is probably considered a "not" on a hot or not list of trends these days. It's one of those things that has been done to death and this project is no exception. But I had half a tin... Continue reading

I'm turning 40 this year and I'm suddenly feeling a bit middle aged. So I'm using a free C25K podcast to build myself up to running 5K again. Or should I say jogging. I'm not an athlete and I'm horribly... Continue reading

We've had a very mild winter so far with relatively little snow. That all changed this week with a snowstorm on Thursday and the children's first skiing lesson today. The temperature hovered around the -18C mark with a "feels like"... Continue reading

Shortly after new year we packed up and drove to NYC to spend a few days exploring while my husband was working there. He's a fairly frequent visitor to Manhattan and this time we decided to all tag along for some family fun. It's been 15 years since my last (and only) visit. I'd almost...

Oh no! Hope he feels better soon. Neither of my children have really vomitted, ever. Except while we were in NYC. We let Thomas drink fanta as a special treat one evening out and guess who threw up all over the hotel walls/bed etc that night? Not pretty!

So I was reading a blog post by a friend of mine about a Less Than Ideal awful trip to the grocery store with her four young kids in tow. Aw, poor Lindsay, that sounds not fun at all. I counted my blessings. Going to the store used to be THE WORST THING for us. Awful. Taking both boys anywh...

Shortly after new year we packed up and drove to NYC to spend a few days exploring while my husband was working there. He's a fairly frequent visitor to Manhattan and this time we decided to all tag along for... Continue reading

There has been a lot of making going on, mostly secret for now till presents have been given. Shopping is done, wrapping too and just some baking to do tomorrow. Time to relax! Except Mr FK has torn some ligaments in his foot and it's puffed up like a sausage so I'm doling out medicine and The...

No snow here! I can't believe it...we may not even get a white Christmas. Am happy to hear about Downtown Abbey - we've been watching it here too. I mash swede and mix it with potato as a topping for cottage pie. Yum!

And so the last day of school has come and gone. The boys have shed their uniform and are already in their pjs, No 1 is on the computer (his natural habitat) and No 2 and 3 are playing hairdressing with their puffles. If you don't know what a puffle ... consider yourself lucky and carry on rega...